THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
DANVILLE, IL — Danville Area Community College (DACC) is proud to announce it has received a Mental Health Services grant from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). This funding will help the college grow its counseling programs and meet the standards of the Illinois Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act.
The Act requires Illinois public community colleges to provide a strong safety net for students. This includes reaching a goal of one clinical staff member for every 1,250 students and starting peer support programs. For this grant period, DACC has chosen to focus on three main goals: expanding access to care, building peer support groups, and increasing awareness of mental health on campus. These efforts will help guide the college’s future Strategic Plan for student wellness
The new funding supports the Counseling Center in Cannon Hall, a safe and private space for students. Through a mix of on-campus staff, telehealth, and off-campus partnerships, DACC is ensuring that help is always within reach.
“We are excited to offer these services to our students and staff free of charge,” said Stephane Potts, Director of Counseling Services. “Mental health is a huge part of student success. With the support of the ICCB, we are focusing on making help easier to find. Our new partnerships allow us to offer unique types of healing, like music therapy and specialized support for survivors, right here on campus.”
The Counseling Center, located in Cannon Hall, Room 122, offers a wide range of support:
On-Campus Care: Stephane Potts provides mental health resources, crisis counseling, and triage.
Licensed Therapy: Through a partnership with Crosspoint Human Services, Licensed Therapist Zoey Naugle offers personal counseling every Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Music Therapy: DACC is excited to now offer Music Therapy in the counseling office every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Specialized Support: The Survivor’s Resource Center provides services on campus for victims of sexual assault, scheduled as needed.
Mobile Health: The OSF mobile Care-A-Van unit visits campus to provide behavioral and medical health services. These are billed through insurance or OSF’s financial assistance program.
Telehealth: Students can access virtual counseling at no cost, ensuring help is available even when they aren’t on campus.
DACC also provides students with 24/7 resources, including the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Dial 988) and the State of Illinois “Call4Calm” text line (Text “Talk” to 552020). For students who want to check in on their own wellness, a free online mental health screening tool is available on the DACC website.
For more information on counseling services or to access the online screening tool, please visit dacc.edu or contact the Counseling Center at (217) 443-8749.
Danville Area Community College is a comprehensive community college serving Illinois District 507, which consists of Vermilion County and parts of Champaign, Iroquois, Edgar, and Ford counties, since 1946. The College offers Associate degrees and certificates in both university transfer and applied career and technical programs. DACC’s historic, 76-acre main campus is located at 2000 East Main Street, Danville. The College has a higher-learning center in Hoopeston at 847 E. Orange. To apply to DACC, call 217-443-3222 or visit the Web site at www.DACC.EDU.
